I love this show, but sometimes wish the writers were a bit more faithful to the original Sherlock Holmes.They seem to go out of their way to come up with "original" touches.FOUR MISSING CHARACTERS:1) MYCROFT HOLMESIn Season Four, the principal original idea was to expand the role of Sherlock's father.The real Sherlock Holmes had only one living relative - his brother Mycrift."Elementary" had an excellent Mycroft (Rhys Ifans).A bit skinny, but that is explained by his being a cancer survivor.Unfortunately Mycroft went into the Witness Protection Program at the end of Season Two.Apparently he is living in California under an assumed name.In his absence, the writers introduced Sherlock's father Morland Holmes (John Noble)- The World's Richest Man(the real Sherlock was descended from a line of country squires)Sherlock's relationship with his father is not good.Sherlock had a prickly relationship with Mycroft, but the relationship with Morland is downright toxic.He suspects Morland of ulterior motives for almost everything he does(he may have a point).At the end of Season Four, it looks like Morland is positioned to play an even larger role in Seasom Five.(no details - that would be a spoiler)Frankly, I wish they'd just bring back Mycroft (give him a bullet-proof vest).2) PROFESSOR MORIARTYConfined to a prison cell, the Professor hasn't put in a personal appearance since Season Two, Episode Twelve.Professor: Please Break Out of Prison for Season Five.This might actually happen - At the end of Season Four, a usurper is planning to take over the Professor's organization.Only Professor Moriarty can stop this from happening.3) IRENE ADLERIrene Adler (Natalie Dormer), the love of Sherlock's life, is forced to spend Seasons Three and Four stuck in prison with Professor Moriarty.I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THOSE UGLY RUMORS ABOUT HER AND THE PROFESSOR.I hope the Professor takes her along on the prison break4) INSPECTOR LESTRADELestrade (Sean Pertwee) hasn't been heard from since Season Two, Episode Seventeen.He was mostly played for comic relief (a throwback to the Lestrade of the Rathbone movies).The real Lestrade earned Holmes' grudging respect:"the best of a bad lot who had reached the top in the CID by bulldog tenacity"English SDH subtitles, Widescreen picture.Some critics complained that any updated Sherlock Holmes must be a ripoff of the BBC series "Sherlock" (debut 2010).Actually, there is a long tradition of setting Holmes in the present day:There was even an updated Sherlock Holmes film set in New York with a female Dr. Watson: "They Might be Giants" (1971)George C. Scott plays a mental patient who thinks he is Sherlock Holmes.His therapist is Dr. Joan Watson, played by Joanne Woodward(see photos 1 and 2)-- A STUDY IN BROWNLook at the cover design for Seasons 1-4 (photos 3 and 4 below)This has got to be the brownest show on television.I am mystified by the color scheme.Sherlock's world is various shades of Brown, relieved only by the occasional splash of grey.221B is frankly a dump.*Even the wallpaper is streaked with brown stains.Yecch.The only exception to all this Brown is the police station where the walls are painted a sickly Green.There is probably some deep psychological meaning to all of this.* Yes, I know the New York townhouse is not really 221B, but I like to think that anywhere Sherlock Holmes lives is 221B - just like any plane the President flies on is "Air Force One".Several reviewers have complained about the cinematography, and the picture quality in general.It does look like the set was lit with 60 watt bulbs.Possibly an attempt to mimic the original gaslight of Sherlock Holmes."Elementary" looks like nothing else on television.A deliberate decision.Subtle lighting like this would actually benefit from Blu-Ray [the lack of which is my only complaint.]"They Might Be Giants" (1971) = They Might Be GiantsSeason 1 (2012) = Elementary: Season 1Season 2 (2013) = Elementary: Season 2Season 3 (2014) = Elementary: Season 3Season 4 (2015) = REVIEWED ON THIS PAGESeason 5: Starts in November, 2016